Steve Lazarides opened his new five-story gallery in Londonâ€™s Rathbone Place this week (originally reported here). Collectors, admirers and famous faces alike crammed into the new Lazarideslocation,Â which has beenÂ named “The Rathbone.” AM was at the private view opening on Thursday the 14th and the house was packed. Even those on the invite-only guest list had to queue outside for a chance to get in and see the latest installment of the “Outsiders” show.

Many of the artists, including Antony Micallef, Conor Harrington (interviewed) and Jonathan Yeo were in attendance at the opening, where Lazarides himself carried a grin as big as some of the impressive pieces in the show. Ian Cox of Wallkandy was the official photographer for the event and we bring you a selection of his wonderful pictures after the jump.

The smell of fresh paint lingered in the air as the contractors worked right up to the deadline to get the construction and decoration of the gallery space finished. The cold beer kept arriving in giant ice filled buckets and flowed freely throughout the night as guests enjoyed the festivities and great art.